Grand Tour of South Africa

(Every Monday at 0730 hrs)

13 Nights / 14 Days

ITINERARY

DAY 01: ARRIVE IN JOHANNESBURG/JOHANNESBURG – HAZYVIEW

In the morning, you meet your representative. Depart Johannesburg and travel to the ‘Land of the Rising Sun – Mpumalanga – via the magnificent Panorama Route. The most spectacular stretch of the Panorama Route is the Blyde River Canyon. From many well-positioned vantage points one has a view of the 33 km long gorge, which starts at “Bourke’s Luck Potholes” and ends at the “Three Rondavels”. Time and weather permitting, stop at God’s Window. In the late afternoon, arrive at your hotel. Check in and freshen up before dinner. (D)

Overnight in Hazyview.

DAY 02: HAZYVIEW – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – HAZYVIEW

After breakfast, early morning transfer to the Kruger National Park for a morning open vehicle safari through the Kruger National Park. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. At nearly 2 million hectares, the reserve is the flagship of South African National Parks and is home to an impressive number of flora and fauna. Return to your hotel in the afternoon and spend the remainder of the day at leisure. You will have an optional return to the Kruger National Park for evening safari at an additional charge. (BD).

Overnight in Hazyview.

DAY 03: HAZYVIEW – SWAZILAND

After breakfast, travel to the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland. This tiny mountainous kingdom is filled with bygone African traditions and culture and offers beautiful scenery and attractions such as game reserves and art and craft outlets to name a few. Enjoy a showcase of the traditional Swazi culture followed by a traditional lunch at the Matsamo Cultural Village. Continue to the Ngwenya Glass Works to see master craftsmen create beautiful sculptures and artwork from molten glass. After spending some time at the craft markets, arrive at your hotel located in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley. Dinner is to your own arrangements. (BL)

Overnight in Swaziland.

DAY 04: SWAZILAND – MKUZE

Depart the hotel after breakfast. Enjoy a morning visit to the Swazi Candle Factory where each candle is made and finished by hand using the age-old technique “millefiore”. No two are the same and the range boasts an astonishing array of patterns, shapes and designs. Continue via Big Bend into KwaZulu Natal. Arrive at your hotel in the afternoon, in time to embark on an afternoon scenic drive up the Lubombo Mountains, offering views over Lake Jozini. At the summit and as the setting sun transforms the sky into a tapestry of colours, stop for sundowners. The drive will be combined with a visit to a local and authentic Zulu homestead for a glimpse into Zulu life in today’s world. Return to the hotel for dinner. (BD)

Overnight in Mkuze.

DAY 05: MKUZE – HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI RESERVE – MKUZE

After breakfast, enjoy the morning at leisure to embark on any of the activities on offer from the hotel. After lunch (on your own), you will transfer to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve for an afternoon of game viewing. The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve covers a combined area of 90000 hectares and it was here that the white rhino was saved from extinction. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. End the day with dinner at the hotel. (BD)

Overnight in Mkuze.

DAY 06: MKUZE – DURBAN

Immediately after breakfast start your journey along the Elephant Coast of KwaZulu Natal to St Lucia which is located at the southern extremity of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – a World Heritage Site. Here you embark on an estuarine boat trip which provides an opportunity to view crocodiles, hippo and numerous bird species, including the elusive African Fish Eagle, in their natural habitat. Continue to Durban for afternoon arrival at your hotel. Dinner is to your own arrangements. (B)

Overnight in Durban.

DAY 07: DURBAN – PORT ELIZABETH

After breakfast, depending on the departure time of your flight, embark on a morning city tour of Durban, a tour dedicated to the discovery of the cultural and historical contrasts of this cosmopolitan city where east meets west. Drive along Durban’s distinctive beachfront, the Golden Mile, past the art-deco buildings and uShaka Marine World to The Point at the harbour entrance. Drive along Victoria Embankment and through the city past buildings of historical significance such as the Natal Museum, City Hall and the Play House Theatre. Proceed to King Shaka International Airport. Check in for your domestic flight to Port Elizabeth. On arrival at Port Elizabeth Airport, you shall meet your representative and transferred to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure. Dinner is to your own arrangements. (B)

Overnight in Port Elizabeth.

DAY 08: PORT ELIZABETH – PLETTENBERG BAY

After breakfast, depart Port Elizabeth and travel via the coastline to the beautiful Tsitsikamma National Park. Described as the ‘Garden of the Garden Route’, the Tsitsikamma actually deserves a more vivid description to encapsulate the beauty of the place. Enjoy a walk along the suspension bridge across the Storms River mouth gorge which offers visitors incredible views and photo opportunities. Continue to Plettenberg Bay for dinner. (BD)

Overnight in Plettenberg Bay.

DAY 09: PLETTENBERG BAY AREA

After breakfast, get up-close-and-personal with nature at the Elephant Sanctuary. With the help of the resident African elephants and the well-informed guides, you will learn about the sad and mystical story of the Elephants. The visit presents you with the opportunity to touch, feed and photograph these gentle giants. After lunch (at your own arrangements), travel to Plettenberg Bay for a visit to Birds of Eden – the largest free-flight bird aviary in the world. Birds of Eden stems from the need to create a safe environment in which to release a large collection of free-flight African birds and the sanctuary also enables bird owners to apply to release their pet birds into the sanctuary, after undergoing rehabilitation. Balance of the day at leisure. (BD)

Overnight in Plettenberg Bay

DAY 10: PLETTENBERG BAY – KNYSNA – OUDTSHOORN

After breakfast and check-out formalities, proceed on an informative cruise up the Keurbooms River. Continue to the lagoon side town of Knysna – the gem of the Garden Route. Enjoy some time at leisure at the Knysna Waterfront Complex before travelling to Oudtshoorn – the ‘feather capital’ of the world due to its large ostrich industry. Visit a working ostrich farm for a guided tour. Check into your accommodation in the late afternoon before enjoying dinner. (BD)

Overnight in Oudtshoorn.

DAY 11: OUDTSHOORN – ROUTE 62 – CAPE TOWN

After breakfast and check-out of the hotel, enjoy a morning tour of the Cango Caves before departing Oudtshoorn. The Cango Caves is one of the natural wonders of the world and has become a major draw-card to the Karoo area. Afterwards, travel via Route 62 to Barrydale for lunch (on your own arrangements). Arrive in Cape Town around 1700 hrs. Dinner is to your own arrangements. (B)

Overnight in Cape Town.

DAY 12: CAPE POINT AND PENINSULA

After breakfast, in the morning, you will be collected for your scheduled full day Cape Point and Peninsula Tour. Travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, stopping at a Llandudno look-out point before continuing to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour with magnificent mountain views and beach (optional boat trip to Seal Island). Continue via Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve. After lunch at a nearby restaurant (at your own arrangements), go on to historic Simon’s Town – a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. Boulders Penguin Colony is home to a growing colony of the vulnerable African Penguin. Wooden walkways allow visitors to view the penguins in their natural habitat and there is also a new information centre. End the day with a visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens which is world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape Flora it displays and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The tour ends upon return to your hotel during the late afternoon. (B)

Overnight in Cape Town.

DAY 13: CAPE WINELANDS

After breakfast, embark on a scheduled full day Cape Winelands Tour. This is a delightful drive, which winds its way to the heart of the Cape Winelands through superb mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads. Head off to the wine country via the N2 to the heart of South Africa’s wine industry, Stellenbosch, boasting great beauty and culture that is steeped in South African history. Travel over the Helshoogte Pass to the town of Franschhoek. Billed as the Gourmet Capital of South Africa, this charming town, in a most picturesque valley, retains a French Huguenot style. Enjoy a wine tasting before taking time to enjoy the fabled culinary skills of the Franschhoek chefs at one of the many award winning restaurants (lunch at your own arrangements). Time permitting, a visit to a Paarl region estate would be included to round off the day’s wine-tasting experiences before heading back to Cape Town. (B)

Overnight in Cape Town.

DAY 14: CAPE TOWN CITY TOUR/DEPARTURE DAY

After breakfast, do a scheduled City Tour of Cape Town – a geographical and cultural extravaganza showing you Cape Town from its historical beginnings to modern buildings and malls. The tour commences with a tour of Table Mountain (weather permitting). In the city itself, visit the Company Gardens, the S.A. Museum, the Castle of Good Hope and the vibrant and arty flea market, Greenmarket Square. Take a trip through the picturesque Bo-Kaap, where you discover the unique culture, lifestyle and personality of the Cape Muslim community and their contribution to South Africa’s development. You will be dropped off at the hotel by 1230 hrs. In the late afternoon, transfer to Cape Town International Airport with your driver and check in for your onward flight. (B)

INFORMATION

INCLUSIONS:

4*/ 5* Accommodation as per itinerary (subject to availability) at the time of booking or similar.

Rates are subject to availability and to further terms and conditions.

All prices are correct at the time of printing. Namaste Tourism reserves the right to alter the published price of any tour due to increasing tariffs, costs and entry fees or fluctuation of exchange rates, such amounts shall be determined at the sole discretion of Namaste Tourism.

No reservations have been made and accommodation is subject to availability. In case of non-availability, alternate accommodation will be recommended.

All outdoor activities are weather permitting.

Domestic flight from Durban to Port Elizabeth is not included. Booking on SAA flight out of Durban at 1230 hrs is recommended.

Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles. Comfort stops will be made en route.

All distances and travelling times are approximate.

Peak Season Surcharge may be applicable during Xmas, New Year or during any special events.